Traction-cultivator frame.



W. A. MOKINNEY. TRAGTION GULTIVATOR FRAME. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 4, 1912.

1,076,049, Patented 0011.21, 1913.

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WILLIAM A. MCKINNEY, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO MCKINNEY TRACTION CULTIVATOR COMPANY, A CORPORATIUN 0F GEORGIA.

TRACTION-CULTVATOR FRAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

Application tiled .Tune 4, 1912. Serial No. 701,699.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that ll, WILLIAM A. MCKIN- NEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a cer` tain new and useful Improvement in Traction-Cultivator Frames, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- -Figure 1 is a plan view of a cast metal traction cultivator frame constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my improved frame.

This invention relates to a one-piece cast metal frame particularly intended for use in connection with traction cultivators, al-

shape, may be readily adapted for use in connection with traction engines, traction plows and the like.

Heretofore in the building of traction engines, traction cultivat-ors and like machines it has been the practice to construct a frame of several pieces and to connect said pieces by means of rivets, bolts or like fastening devices, but such construction has many disadvantages for the reason that the strains and constant vibration developed in the machine during operation, tends to loosen the connections between the various pieces of `the frame, thereby destroying all rigidity and stability of the frame and also destroying the alinement of the various bearings and journal boxes which receive the transverse shafts of the machine.

It is the purpose of my invention to overcome the objectionable features just mentioned by casting the frame in one piece and forming integral therewith the various bearings andI lugs necessary to receive the transversely disposed shafts and supporting rods which form a part of the traction engine orl cultivator. By cast-ing the frame in one piece I am able to produce a very strong, rigid and substantial structure, which, in

slight changes in piece casting can be produced with the eX penditure of considerablyl less time and laor than a framework built up from a num# ber of structural shapes united by bolts, rivets or the like, and it is a well known fact that built-up structures such as machine frames do not possess the rigidity of lcast metal' oneieee frames.

To the a ove purposes my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings; sills of my improved frame, the same being preferably T-shaped the forward portions 2 of said side rails or sills curve gradually upward and toward one another and unite at a point on a line midway between the side rails or sills. Formed at the apex or meeting point of the forward ends of the side rails of the frame is a vertically disposed cylindrical bearing 8 which is adapted to receive a' vertically disposed shaft which carries the steering wheel a of the machine. A steering lever b is attached to the upper end of the shaft for the purpose of manipulating the steering wheel.

Formed integral with the central portions of the inwardly and upwardly projecting forward ends 2 of the side rails is .a transversely disposed rail 4 preferably T- shaped in cross section, which serves to strengthen the forward portion of the frame, and formed through the center of p this rail is a pair of vertically disposed apertures 4 which serve as bearings for movable parts of the steering gear.

Formed through the rails 1 near the points where the same start curve u' wardly and inwardly are horlzonta-lly disposed openin s 5 which form bearingsV fora transversely disposed member to which the' l designates the side rails orin cross section, and.

plows or cultivator shovels are connected. Formed integral with the rails 1 to the rear of these bearings is a transversely disposed bar G, preferably T-shaped in cross section, and projecting upwardly therefrom is a series of lugs 7, the same being perforated in order to form bearings for a transversely disposed rock shaft 8, and which latter serves as a portion of the actuating mechanism of the engine or cultivator. This transverse bar 6 also serves as a support for the fuel oil tank 9 and the operators seat 10, which latter is located in a central position immediately behind the steering lever b.

A transversely disposed rail 11 is formed integral with the rails 1 to the rear of the rail 6, said rail 11 being preferably Z-shaped in cross section with its bottom ange 11a projecting toward the rear of the frame. rlhe upper portion of this rail 11 serves as a support for the radiator 12 that is used in connection with the engine, and said rail also serves to strengthen and reinforce the rear portion of the frame.

Formed through the horizontal flanges of the side rails 1 to the rear of the rail 11 are apertures 13 adapted to receive anchoring bolts for the boxes in which the ends of the engine shaft are journaled; The rear ends of the rails 1 are split horizontally to form bearings 14 for the main axle 15 on the ends of which the main traction wheels 16 arel mounted. The central portion of the axle 15 and the central portion of the horizon-I tally disposed bottom ange 11a of the rail 11 form supports for the base of a suitable engine 17, preferably of the internal combuston type.

Formed integral with and connecting the rear ends of the rails 1 is a transversely disposed rail 18 that is preferably Z-shape in cross section with its bottom flange 18EL projecting toward the flange 11a on the rail 11.

This rail serves to strengthen the rear portion of the frame and to give stability to the bearings 111 for the main axle 15. The Hange 18a also serves as a support for the rear portion of the engine base.

A frame of my improved construction is very strong and rigid, can be easily and cheaply constructed inasmuch as it is cast in a single piece, and by makin said frame in one piece, it is possible to orm or cast therewith a large number of journal bearings, lugs, and parts, which, in built-up structures, are applied to the main frame by means of bolts, rivets and like fastening devices', and which latter are susceptible of displacement by reason of the excessive vibration imparted to the frame during the operation of the machine of which said frame is a part. By constructing the frame in a single piece, much time and labor can be saved in assemblin a machine, and it is not necessary to provlde a large number of patterns, templets and like parts that are essential in the construction of a built-up frame.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved frame can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The herein described one-piece frame for traction cultivators comprising a pair of side rails, the forward ends of which are united, a vertically disposed bearin formed at the meeting point of the forwar ends of said side rails, which bearing is adapted to receive the vertically disposed shaft forming a part of the steerlng mechanism, a series of transversely disposed rails integral with the side rails, and the rear ends of which side rails are divided horizontally to form bearings for the rear axle of the ma` chine. f

2. The hereindescribedframe for traction cultivators comprising a pair of side rails the forward ends of which curve upwardly and inwardly and are united at a central point, a vertically disposed bearing formed at the meeting point of the forward ends of said side rails, a series of transversely disposed rails uniting said side rails, and the rear ends of which side rails are divided horizontally to form bearings for the rear axle of the machine.

3. The herein described traction cultivator frame comprising a pair of side rails, the forward ends of which are united, the rear ends of which side rails are divided horizontally to form bearings for the rear axle of the cultivator, a transversely disposed rail connecting the rear portions of the side rails, which transversely disposed rail is provided with a rearwardly projecting, horizontally disposed bottom iange, and a series of transversely disposed rails connecting the side rails in front of the first mentioned transversely disposed rail, all of which parts are cast integral.

4; The herein described onepiece traction cultivator frame comprising a pair of side rails, the rear ends of which are divided horizontally to form bearings for the rear axle of the cultivator, the forward ends of which side rails are curved inwardly and united at a central point, a transversely disposed rail unitin the inwardly curved for ward portions o said side rails, and a pair of transversely disposed rails connecting said side rails to the rear of first mentioned transversely disposed rail, all of which parts are cast integral.

5. The herein described frame for traction cultivators comprising a pair of side rails, the forward ends of which are united at a. point midway between said side rails, the rear ends of which rails are divided horizontally to form bearings for the rear axle of the cultivator, and a pa-ir of transversely disposed rails connecting the rear portions of said side rails, which transversely disposed rails are Z-shaped in cross section.

In testimony whereof I hereunto MEXl nly -signature in the presence of two witnesses,

this 29th day of May, 1912.

WILLIAM A. MGKINN EY. Witnesses:

M. P. SMITH, M. A. HANDEL. 

